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Co and N co-modified carbon nanotubes as efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

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Abstract

It is a big challenge to prepare non-rare metal and high-activity electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this paper, a cobalt/carbon nanotubes/chitosan composite gel was synthesized and then annealed under nitrogen atmosphere to yield the cobalt and nitrogen co-modified carbon nanotubes (Co–N-CNTs) nanocomposite electrocatalysts. In this strategy, the cobalt component considerably enhanced the ORR activity and improved the degree of graphitic structure to increase the electronic conductivity. The chitosan served as sustainable source for nitrogen doping. The Co–N-CNTs exhibit excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalytic activity due to the synergetic effect of Co species and N-doping. The Co–N-CNTs also deliver excellent methanol tolerance and superior long-term durability to that of commercial Pt/C, making it a promising ORR electrocatalyst.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21671096 and 21603094), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. 2016A030310376), the Guangdong Special Support for the Science and Technology Leading Young Scientist (No. 2016TQ03C919), the Guangdong Innovative and Entrepreneurial Research Team Program (No. 2016ZT06G587) and the Basic Research Project of the Science and Technology Innovation Commission of Shenzhen (No. JCYJ20170412153139454 and JCYJ20170817110251498).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Ying-Gang Zhu, Chao-Qun Shang, Zhen-Yu Wang, Jian-Qiao Zhang, Ming-Yang Yang, Hua Cheng & Zhou-Guang Lu

  2. South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Chao-Qun Shang

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  1. Ying-Gang Zhu
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  2. Chao-Qun Shang
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  6. Hua Cheng
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  7. Zhou-Guang Lu
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Correspondence to Chao-Qun Shang or Hua Cheng.

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Zhu, YG., Shang, CQ., Wang, ZY. et al. Co and N co-modified carbon nanotubes as efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction. Rare Met. 40, 90–95 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-019-01270-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-019-01270-x

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